Pacific Curls

Pambula Town Hall

Friday 24th October, 2008

7pm

with Tim Willis as support

Adults $20

Concessions $15 & kids 12 & under free

Pacific Curls never set out to be a trio.   Four years ago when they found themselves in an Auckland studio, recording a Celtic/Maori/Pacific fusion album with two others, they had little idea that after two European tours, untold Australian, several New Zealand and a knock out Canadian run, they would be the last three standing!

 
Hailed as a “... standout act...” by The Wellington Dominion Post, and recognised for their “impressive resume of performance experience and musical talent...” Waikato Times, they are artists who best embody the notion of music and culture transcending boundaries till the seams are invisible.

They describe their musical collaboration for this unconventional threesome, “We feel a reverence for each others cultures and explore the places where we crossover,” says Halliday, Barlow adds “people are looking for culture, for belonging, we hope we create that place that embraces us for who we are.  ”

The unprecedented combination of Fiddle, Ukulele, Maori traditional instruments, Cajons, Guitar, Stomp Peddles, Percussion and Vocals with lyrics in Maori, Rotuman and English unfolds a new direction for fusion World music.  Beattie confirms “This is hardly a lone journey!”

Having long been sought after as a guitar player, playing with the likes of Robert Fripp and Nigel Gavin, Kim Halliday has reinvented herself with her virtuosic ukulele performances and multi-instrumental expertise.  Her song writing is the inspiration for the music of Pacific Curls and Kim’s long time association with the NZ Music Industry as a performer and business entrepreneur has put her in hot demand with the likes of Whirimako Black, Nat Rose, Big Belly Woman and scores of other bands and musicians. 

Born and raised in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, long time fiddle player Sarah Beattie, performs with a passion reflecting her deep connection to Scottish music.  Whilst classically studying, receiving her degree from the world renowned Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Sarah became inspired by traditional Scottish tunes.  Her fiddle playing is a unique alchemy of fast and inventive tradition to her signature ‘bass’ chops with the aid of an octave.  Beyond her work with Pacific Curls, Sarah has toured with diverse groups such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Brave Hearts of Scotland and trance dance band Luna Loop.

As an artist whose metamorphic drive has facilitated the creation of Pacific Curls, Ora Barlow has translated this vision with the musical skills of percussion and Taonga Puoro – traditional Maori instruments.  This worldly instrumentalist and singer songwriter evokes her passion for tradition and improvisation to explore the crossing of global and cultural lines.  After being invited to the Commonwealth Games celebrations in 2002 in Manchester, Ora began her long admiration of Celtic traditions and her dream to bring together country and culture through music.

After their 2008 album release ‘Pacifi Celta’, Pacific Curls stomped and skipped their way through a national New Zealand tour, an Australian tour and highly successful Canadian shows with appearances at festivals including Vancouver Folk Festival, The 2008 Indigenous Games, Harrison Hot Springs Festival and many more.  They will be returning to Canada in 2009 and in the 2010 Winter Olympics celebrations as part of a world music collaborative project.

“We had no idea the three of us would end up as a trio and yet under miraculous circumstances we just seemed to stick,” says Beattie.  Miracle or not, Pacific Curls transcendental sound seemed always fated to be.

www.pacificcurls.com      www.myspace.com/pacificcurls.com   www.sonicbids.com/pacificcurls